Dishwashing machine



1962 B. c. A. LUNDISTEDT 3,

DISHWASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Feb. 24, 1959 Oct. 30, 1962 B. c. A. LUNDSTEDT 3,060,943

DISHWASHING MACHINE Original Filed Feb 24, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

inMw M B United States Patent Q 3,069,948 DISHWASHKNG MACI-m lE Bror Carl Axel Lundstedt, Vallinghy, Sweden, assignor to Aktieholaget Electrolux, Stockholm, Sweden, a corporation of Sweden Continuation of abandoned application Ser. No. 794,892, Feb. 24, 1959. This application Oct. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 142,874

Claims priority, application Sweden Feb. 21, 19:8 6 Claims. (Cl. 134186) This invention relates to washing machines and is especially applicable to household dishwashers. This application is a continuation of my application Serial No. 794,892, filed February 24, 1959, now abandoned.

In devices of this type, it is necessary to provide for the controlled removal of liquid from the device and for the delivery of liquid thereto. Particularly in the case of relatively compact, portable dishwashers, this problem is usually complicated by the fact that the device, in ultimate use, may 'be disposed in various positional relations with respect to liquid sources, such as the ordinary water faucet and liquid receivers such as the usual kitchen sink, so that flexible hose or tubing must frequently be employed. It will also be understood that devices of this general type are subjected to relatively severe vibration during use, so that a problem arises in assuring that a good liquid-tight seal is maintained at all joints and connections in the fluid handling system.

With the foregoing in mind, it is a general object of the present invention to provide a washing machine of the type described comprising an elfective, inexpensive, highly simplified fluid handling arrangement.

A further object of the invention is to devise a dish washer comprising a pair of liquid discharge paths ar ranged in parallel, one of such paths being controlled by a manually operable valve, the arrangement being such that the parallel discharge paths require a minimum of space and only a relatively few, easily assembled parts.

In order that the manner in which these and other objects are attained in accordance with the invention can be understood in detail, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view, partially in vertical section and partly in elevation, of a dishwashing machine constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 1, viewed generally from the bottom;

FIG. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the device of FIG. 1, looking downward, and with some parts shown in plan elevation;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, taken generally on the line 4-4, FIG. 3, and illustrating liquid discharge means embodied in the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan elevational view of the mechanism of FIG. 4, with some parts broken away for clarity; and

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 5.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and first to FIG. 1, it will be seen that this embodiment of the invention comprises a cylindrical housing, indicated generally at 10, including an upper portion 11 and a base portion 12. The top edge of base portion 12 is offset outward, the bottom edge of upper portion 11 is seated in the offset, and the resulting horizontal joint is covered by a com bined sealing and supporting strip 13, of rubber, plastic or the like. Both housing portions 11, 1-2 are fabricated of aluminum sheet or glass fiber reinforced resinous material. Upper portion 11 is provided with a horizontal top wall 14. Lower housing portion 12 has a generally horizontal bottom wall 15 to which are attached a pluthe dishwasher, valve element 42 is brought into engage- 3,860,948 Patented Oct. 30, 1962 -2 rality of feet 16. A dependent annular flange or skirt 17 is carried by wall 15 to shield certain parts of the device hereinafter described.

To provide an opening for the introduction and removal of dishes, upper portion 11 of the housing is out along a line extending upward, then along the top wall 14 toward the center, then outward and again downward, as indicated at 18, the resulting edge of portion 11 being protected by a soft strip or bead 19 of soft rubber or I plastic. Cooperating with the opening defined by edge 18 is a slidable door 22, similar in shape to portion 11 of the housing, and arranged to be moved manually from a nested position, in which the dishwasher is open, to an exposed position, in which the dishwasher is closed. Bottom wall 15 of lower housing portion 12 is provided with a central, circular opening. A cup-like sump casing 23, having a cylindrical side wall 24 and an outwardly directed annular flange 25, is mounted on wall 15, as by screws 26, with flange 25 surrounding the central opening of wall 15. A liquid supply conduit 27 extends through the side wall of sump casing 23, thence outward below wall 15 and upward along the outside of the housing to a flow chamber 28. Chamber 28 has suitably connected thereto a flexible delivery hose 29. As seen in FIG. 3, hose 29 is provided at its free end with a flexible female coupling 30 fabricated of rubber or the like and having an internal conical flange 31 tapering toward the interior of hose 29. At its side, coupling 30 is provided with a suction cup 32 by which the coupling, and thus the free end of hose 29, can be separably attached to a portion of the housing, such as the top wall 14, when the hose is not in use.

At its end opposite coupling 30, hose 29 extends through and is sealingly supported by the side wall of chamber 28. The chamber is provided at the bottom with a drain 33 located above a collecting funnel 34, suitably secured to upper housing portion 11, the bottom of the funnel being turned inward and extending through the housing wall, as seen at 35, to deliver to the interior of the dishwasher. The end of delivery hose 29 con nected to chamber 28 is arranged horizontally to deliver liquid, under faucet pressure, in such fashion that the liquid follows a whirl path in the chamber, descending to the laterally arranged inlet of supply conduit 27. Above the delivery end of hose 29, chamber 28 is provided with a cover having an air vent 36 communicating with the atmosphere via top opening 37 of the chamber. Thus, most of the liquid from hose 29 flows via the chamber to the supply conduit 27, free from surges and other pressure fluctuations occurring because of variations in supply pressure. Leakage liquid is delivered via drain 33 and funnel 34 into the dishwasher at a suitable point at its side wall.

Sump casing 23 is provided with a lateral opening in which is mounted a valve seat 37. A pipe coupling 38, provided with a lateral opening 39, is disposed tangen tially with respect to casing 23 and is secured directly thereto by means of screws or fasteners 40, FIG. 5, the lateral opening of the coupling being in registry with the valve seat 37. Opposite the valve seat, coupling 38 has a lateral boss through which extends a valve operating rod 41, the rod extending exteriorly of the coupling transversely thereof to valve seat 37 and there being equipped with a rigidly attached movable valve element 42 which cooperates with the valve seat. The arrange ment is such that, when rod 41 is moved outward from ment with valve seat 37 to prevent liquid from flowing from the sump chamber into the coupling, while opposite movement of rod 41 opens the valve to allow such flow. Manual actuation of the valve in this manner is accomspouses 3 plished by means of a bell crank lever 43 pivoted at 44 to a projection 45 formed integrally with pipe coupling 38, the lever having a long arm 46 extending outwardly of the dishwasher and terminating in an exposed knob .47, and a short arm 48 pivoted at 49, in any suitable fashion, to valve rod 41. It will thus be seen that pivotal movement of the bell crank lever in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5, will move valve rod 41 in a direction to open the valve while opposite pivotal movement of the lever will move the valve rod to close the valve. Lever 43 is normally biased to valve-closing position by a tension spring 50 having one end attached to projection 45 at a point substantially aligned with the midposition of long arm 46 of the operating lever. Hence,

when the long arm of the lever is moved in a valveopening direction past its midpoint, spring 56 then serves to bias the lever in valve-opening position.

Since rod 41 is constrained, by its association with the pipe coupling, to move rectilinearly, it is necessary to allow the effective length of shorter lever arm 48 to change during actuation of the valve. This is accomplished by mounting the pivot pin at 49 on a cross-slide carried by block 51 in such fashion that the cross-slide is free to move transversely with respect to the valve rod 41, block 51 being rigidly attached to the rod. To one end of pipe coupling 38 there is attached a flexible drain hose 52. To the other end of the pipe coupling there is attached an elbow 53 fabricated of relatively firm, resilient or compressible material such as rubber or a synthetic resin composition. Bottom wall 15 of lower housing portion 12 is provided with a circular drain opening. The upper end of elbow 53 has an exteriorly facing annular groove 54 and the edge portion of wall 15 defining the drain opening is engaged in this groove. A relatively short, upright overflow pipe 55 is disposed with its lower end inserted in the upper end of elbow 53, the outside diameter of the lower end of the overflow pipe being slightly larger than the normal interior diameter of the upper end of the elbow, so that the upper end of the elbow is compressed and the walls of groove 54 are tightly engaged with the circular edge provided by wall 15. There is thus provided a good fluid-tight seal between the overflow pipe, the elbow and wall 15. Recognizing that, in this embodiment, the elbow 53 is of nonmetallic material so that its attachment to pipe coupling 38 does not provide complete mechanical support, it will be understood that the combination of the overflow pipe 55, the upper end of the elbow 53 and wall 15 serves to provide additional mechanical support for the elbow.

At a point disposed on the other side of pipe coupling 38 from the opening engaged by elbow 53 there is provided in bottom wall 15 a second discharge opening closed by a plug 56, FIGS. 3 and 4. Advantageously, plug 56 consists of a circular body, of rubber or compressible but firm synthetic resin material, provided with an annular, open groove in its periphery, the circular edge in the wall 15 defining the second opening therein being seated in the groove and the material of the plug being held under compression to provide a liquid-tight seal, as will be clear from FIG. 4. V

The ends of pipe coupling 38 are identical cylinders and identical sleeves 57 are employed to connect drain hose 52 and elbow 53 to the pipe coupling. It is accordingly possible to reverse the positions of the hose and elbow from those illustrated, and the drain hose therefore can extend from the dishwasher in either desired one of 62 arranged to discharge the liquid onto dishes and other items supported on a rack indicated generally at 63. A suitable rotary distributor valve, at 64, FIG. 3, is provided to connect the output of the pump 59 successively to the several pipes.

Rack 63 is rotatably supported by, and driven through, a drive coupling 65 connected to speed reduction gearing driven from the lower end of shaft 60, the coupling being disposed to rotate about the longitudinal axis of shaft 60. Thus, as the pump 59 is operated to supply liquid to the spray pipes, the rack is rotated to carry its contents past the spray pipes. Rotary distributor valve 64 is operated from the same gearing employed'to drive the rack.

The pump, gearing and distributor valve are housed in fluid-tight fashion within a casing 66, FIG. 1, casing 66 having the shape of an inverted cup. At a point spaced somewhat above the bottom of sump casing 23, there is provided a filter element 67 having a circular central opening, defined by flange 68, and a circular periphery, flange 68 engaging the pump 59, and the periphery of the filter element 67 engaging the sump casing 23. The filter element 67 is bent, along a line 69, FIG. 5, extending chordwise of the sump casing, so that a portion 67 of the filter element slopes downward to engage sump casing 23 below valve seat 37 in the discharge opening of the sump. Thus, particles retained on the filter element find their way, via sloping portion 67 to the discharge opening during draining of the dishwasher, but such particles are excluded from that portion of the sump with which the inlet of the pump communicates directly.

Electric motor 61 is provided with a manual on-otf switch 70, FIG. 1, having an operating member (not shown) accessible exteriorly of plate 71, and is connected to house current supply by the usual flexible cable (not shown). Housing 10 is provided, at any convenient point, with a small opening, with suitable closure (not shown) for the introduction of detergent.

In operation, the dishwasher is placed on a counter or other suitable supporting surface adjacent the sink, door 22 is opened, the dishes and other items to be washed are placed on rack 63, and door 22 again closed. Coupling 30 of delivery hose 29 is connected to a water faucet. Discharge hose 52 is run to the sink. Lever 43 is positioned to close the discharge valve 42. With the motor supply cable connected to a wall plug, switch 70 is actuated to energize motor 61, so that the pump 59, rack 63 and distributor valve 64 are driven. The faucet is then opened and water allowed to run into the dishwasher until water is seen to flow from the discharge hose 52 into the sink, indicating that the water level in the dishwasher is at the top of overflow pipe 55. The faucet is then closed. The motor is allowed to operate for a suitable period of time, during which the water is continuously withdrawn from the sump by the centrifugal pump and delivered as a spray from pipes 62 against the dishes, the sprayed water draining into the sump for recirculation by the pump.

At the end of this first washing period, switch 70 is actuated to stop the motor 61 and lever 43 is then pivoted, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5, to open the discharge valve 42. The water then drains to the sink through'drain hose 52, any solid particles which were washed from the dishes being directed into the discharge opening of the sump by reason of the disposition of filter element portion 67*. When Water ceases to flow from the drain hose, lever 43 is pivoted, counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 5, to close the discharge valve 42. The entire operating cycle is then repeated. As many cycles as necessary can be employed, detergent being introduced as desired. After the final cycle, coupling 30 is removed from the faucet and attached to the outer surface of housing 10 to conveniently store the delivery hose, door 22 is 5. Lantz, which copending application claims certain features disclosed, but not claimed, herein.

The embodiment shown and described herein is illustrative of the invention and does not limit it, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim:

1. In a washing machine of the type described, the combination of an upright housing having a bottom wall formed with an opening and an upstanding side wall, means in the housing for supporting therein dishes to be washed, spray means in the housing for spraying liquid therein, structure mounted on the housing which provides a sump chamber having a bottom part and an upstanding side Wall joined to the bottom wall of the housing and depending therefrom, the sump chamber always being in communication with the interior of the housing through the opening in its bottom wall, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet and the spray means, the pump being so constructed and arranged that its inlet is disposed in the sump chamber, means for introducing liquid to the washing machine for flow to the sump chamber, means providing a drain for draining liquid by gravity from the interior of the housing, the drain means being constructed and arranged to drain liquid from the interior of the housing at a region laterally removed from the opening in its bottom wall, the side wall of the sump chamber having an outlet at a level above its bottom part and below the bottom wall of the housing, a coupling member having an axially extending passage and an opening in a wall thereof intermediate the ends of the passage and in communication therewith, means for mounting the coupling member on the sump chamber structure with the opening in the wall of the coupling member in communication with the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, first conduit means connecting one end of the coupling passage and the drain means, second conduit means connected to the other end of the coupling passage for conducting liquid to waste, and means including a valve movable between closed and open positions for respectively closing and opening the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, the drain means and valve being so constructed and arranged that in the valve-closed position the first and second conduit means and the coupling passage therebetween provide the only line for draining liquid by gravity from a region in the interior of the housing that is above its bottom wall and in the valve-open position liquid can drain by gravity to waste in the aforementioned line from the interior of the housing and also drain by gravity to waste from the sump chamber through the coupling passage and the second conduit means, said means for closing and opening the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber including an elongated element which extends transversely of the axially extending passage in the coupling member and is connected at one end to the valve, and means for operating the valve including a lever pivotally mounted on the coupling member and having a part connected to the other end of the elongated element.

2. A washing machine as set forth in claim 1 in which the lever includes a manually operable part movable in a horizontal path at the bottom of the housing at the vicinity of its upstanding side wall.

- 3. In a washing machine of the type described, the combination of an upright housing having a bottom wall formed with a first opening, means in the housing for supporting therein dishes to be washed, spray means in the housing for spraying liquid therein, structure mounted on the housing which provides a sump chamber having a bottom part and an upstanding side wall joined to the bottom wall of the housing and depending therefrom, the sump chamber always being in communication with the interior of the housing through the first opening in its bottom wall, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet and the spray means, the

pump being so constructed and arranged that its inlet is disposed in the sump chamber, means for introducing liquid to the washing machine for flow to the sump chamber, means providing a drain for draining liquid by gravity from the interior of the housing, the drain means being constructed and arranged to drain liquid from the interior of the housing at a region laterally removed from the first opening in its bottom wall, the side wall of the sump chamber having an outlet at a level above its bottom part and below the bot-tom wall of the housing, a coupling member having an axially extending passage and an opening in a Wall thereof intermediate the ends of the passage and in communication therewith, means for mounting the coupling member on the sump chamber structure with the opening in the wall of the coupling member in communication with the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, first conduit means connecting one end of the coupling passage and the drain means, second conduit means connected to the other end of the coupling passage for conducting liquid to waste, and means including a valve movable between closed and open positions for respectively closing and opening the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, the drain means and valve being co constructed and arranged that in the valve-closed position the first and second conduit means and the coupling passage therebetween provide the only line for draining liquid by gravity from a region in the interior of the housing that is above its bottom wall and in the valve-open position liquid can drain by gravity to waste in the aforementioned line from the interior of the housing and also drain by gravity to waste from the sump chamber through the coupling passage and the second conduit means, the bottom wall of the housing being formed with second and thirdopenings of similar size and shape which are laterally removed from the first opening in the bottom wall through which the sump chamber is always in communication with the interior of the housing, the coupling member being mounted on the sump chamber structure with each end of the coupling member passage being nearer to a different one of the second and third openings than the other, the coupling member and the means for mounting it on the sump chamber structure being so constructed and arranged that the coupling member can be mounted on the sump chamber structure in a first position with the one end of the coupling passage nearer to the second opening in the bottom wall than to the third opening and also in a second position with the one end of the coupling passage nearer to the third opening in the bottom wall than to the second opening, the means for draining liquid from the interior of the housing including the first conduit means and provisions for draining liquid through one of the second and third openings, and a removable closure member for the other of the second and third openings.

4. A washing machine as set forth in claim 3 in which the first conduit means comprises piping Which is formed of compressible resilient material insertable into one of the second and third openings in the bottom wall of the housing and is resiliently held against the edge of the one opening to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween.

5. In a washing machine of the type described, the combination of an upright housing having a bottom Wall formed with a first opening, means in the housing for supporting therein dishes to be washed, spray means in the housing for spraying liquid therein, structure mounted on the housing which provides a sump chamber having a bottom part and an upstanding side wall joined to the bottom wall of the housing and depending therefrom, the sump chamber always being in communication with the interior of the housing through the first opening in its bottom wall, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet and the spray means, the pump being so constructed and arranged that its inlet is disposed in the sump chamber, means for inaccepts troducing liquid to the washing machine for flow to the sump chamber, means providing a drain for draining liquid by gravity from the interior of the housing, the drain means being constructed and arranged to drain liquid from the interior .of the housing at a region laterally removed from the first opening in its bottom wall, the side wall of the sump chamber having an outlet at a level above its bottom part and below the bottom wall of the housing, a coupling member having an axially extending passage and an opening in a wall thereof intermediate the ends of the passage and in communication thereuu'th, means for, mounting the coupling member on the sump chamber structure with the opening in the wall of the coupling member in communication with the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, first conduit means connecting one end of the coupling passage and the drain means, second conduit means connected to the other end of the coupling passage for conducting liquid to Waste, and means including a valve movable between closed and open positions for respectively closing and opening the outlet in the side Wall of the sump chamber, the drain means and valve being so constructed and arranged that in the valve-closed position the first and second conduit means and the coupling passage therebetween provide the only line for draining liquid by gravity from a region in the interior of the housing that is above its bottom wall and in the valve-open position liquid can drain by gravity to waste in the aforementioned line from the interior of the housing and also drain by gravity to waste from the sump chamber through the coupling passage and the second conduit means, the bottom wall of the housing being formed with second and third openings of similar size and shape which are laterally removed from the first opening in the bottom wall through which the sump chamber is always in communication with the interior of the housing, the coupling member being mounted on the sump chamber structure with each end of the coupling member passage being nearer to a different one of the second and third openings than the other, the means for draining liquid from the interior of the housing including the first conduit means and provisions for draining liquid through one of the second and third openings, and a removable closure member for the other of the second and third openings, and the first conduit means comprising piping which is formed of compressible resilient material insertable into one of the second and third openings in the bottom wall of the housing and is resiliently held against the edge of the one opening to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween.

6. In a washing machine of the type described, the.

combination of an upright housing having a bottom wall formed with a first opening, means in the housing for supporting therein dishes to be washed, spray means in the housing for spraying liquid therein, structure mounted on the housing which provides a sump chamber having a bottom part and an upstanding side wall joined to the bottom wall of the housing and depending therefrom, the sump chamber always beingin communication with the interior of the housing through the first opening in its bottom Wall, a pump having an inlet and an outlet, means connecting the pump outlet and the spray means, the pump being so constructed and arranged that its inlet is disposed in the sump chamber, means for introducing liquid to the Washing machine for flow to the sump chamber, means providing a drain for draining liquid by gravity from the interior of the housing, the dnain means being constructed and arranged to drain liquid from the interior of the housing at a region laterally removed from the first opening in its bottom wall, the side wall of the sump chamber having an outlet at a level above its bottom part and below the bottom wall of the housing, a coupling member having an axially extending passage and an opening in a Wall thereof intermediate the ends of the passage and in communication therewith, means for mounting the coupling member on the sump chamber structure with the opening in the wall of the coupling member in communication with the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, first conduit means connecting one end of the coupling passage and the drain means, second conduit means connected to the other end of the coupling passage for conducting liquid to waste, and means including a valve movable between closed and open positions for respectively closing and opening the outlet in the side wall of the sump chamber, the drain means and valve being so constructed and arranged that in the valve-closed position the first and second conduit means and the coupling passage therebetween provide the only line for draining liquid by gravity from a region in the interior of the housing that is above its bottom wall and in the valve-open position liquid can drain by gravity to waste in the aforementioned line from the interior of the housing and also drain by gravity to waste from the sump chamber through the coupling passage and the second conduit means, the bottom wall of the housing being formed with second and third openings of similar size and shape which are laterally removed from the first opening in the bottom wall through which the sump chamber is always in communication with the interior of the housing, the coupling member being mounted on the sump chamber structure with each end of the coupling member passage being nearer to a different one of the second and third openings than the other, the coupling member and the means for mounting it on the sump chamber structure being so constructed and arranged that the coupling member can be mounted on the sump chamber structure in a position with the one end of the coupling passage nearer to the second opening in the bottom wall than to the third opening and with the other end of the coupling passage nearer to the third opening in the bottom wall than to the second opening, the means for draining liquid from the interior of the housing including the first conduit means and provisions for draining liquid through one of the second and third openings, and a removable closure member for the other of the second and third openings, and the first conduit means comprising piping which is formed of compressible resilient material insertable into one of the second and third openings in the bottom wall of the housing and is resiliently held against the edge of the one opening to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,481,550 Hall Ian. 22, 1924 1,574,234 Cumner Feb. 23, 1926 1,703,946 Melish Mar. 5, 1929 2,314,315 Scheele Mar. 16, 1943 2,573,067 Sandberg Oct. 30, 1951 2,652,844 Van Hise Sept. 22, 1953 2,751,917 Low June 26, 1956 

